Weddings, Baptisms & Funerals
Celebrations at St. James'
St. James’ Church would be honored to be a part of your celebration. Whether it is a wedding, baptism or funeral, St.James’ clergy and staff take great care in meeting families where they are in their journey in faith. The first step is to call the Parish Office 315-685-7600 to schedule time to talk and see if St. James’ is the right place to celebrate your important day.
Click each section below to learn more about how St. James’ can be a part of your celebration.
Click sections to expand
We are delighted that you are considering being married at St. James’. Both the chapel and the main church are particularly beautiful sacred spaces for weddings. Although you need not be a member of St. James’ to be married here, if you live locally we sincerely hope that you will consider becoming part of the St. James’ community and making this your spiritual home.
Should you choose to be married at St. James’, the Rector and parish staff will work with you to create a meaningful service of worship and a good beginning for your marriage.
1) First things: St. James’ takes very seriously our commitment to you in helping you establish the best possible foundation for your lifetime together. Therefore our policies are consistent with the canons of the Episcopal Church which require the following:
- at least one of the parties must be a baptized Christian
- the couple does premarital preparation with a member of the clergy (4-6 sessions)
- in the case of a divorced person who wishes to remarry, permission of the Bishop of Central New York is required, adding at least 30 days to the preparation time.
2) Service details: Planning your wedding takes place in collaboration with St. James’ Rector and musicians. Each couple will be guided in thinking through options for the service such as readings and music, flowers and photography, with flexibility and creativity so that your wedding ceremony reflects you while honoring the sacred space and the framework and beauty of the Episcopal liturgy (wedding service).
3) Costs: Wedding costs are a concern of every couple. Our intent therefore is to make details clear and direct. Costs cover the expenses to St. James’ for conducting a wedding. The two cost tiers for members and non-members recognize that members already contribute to this parish and to the mission of St. James’ and that conducting a wedding for non-members generally involves additional time and attention on the part of St. James’ staff and volunteers. Costs may be found here.
Helpful information regarding weddings at St. James’
St. James’ is honored to share with couples in planning and conducting weddings in the beautiful, sacred spaces of the main church and the chapel. We want to hear your dreams and hopes for your day, and have learned that it is helpful to provide some guidance in advance in answer to questions that you may have.
- Who may officiate?: St. James’ Rector has oversight of all weddings conducted at St. James’. In most cases she will handle preparations including the rehearsal, and will serve as officiant for the ceremony.
However, we understand that a couple may have a significant relationship with another Episcopal priest and would like that priest to officiate. The Rector welcomes a conversation in such a case, and it is her responsibility to extend the invitation to any other clergy to officiate.
Should the clergy of your choice be other than Episcopalian, St. James’ clergy are happy to invite another pastor to participate in the ceremony. St. James’ clergy will be in conversation with your pastor to determine the nature and extent of the role of the visiting pastor. - Pre-marital preparation: Several sessions of preparatory conversation are required of all couples in accordance with the canons of the Episcopal Church. Couples who live outside Central New York, may choose to do this preparation with someone other than St. James’ Rector. In this case, your pastor will provide a letter to St. James’, detailing the nature and extent of the pre-marital preparation along with a statement of their confidence in your readiness for marriage.
- Order of service: There are choices to be made by the couple regarding music, readings, and other details, that will make your wedding service personal. However, weddings at St. James’ are conducted using the Marriage Rite (The Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage) found in the Book of Common Prayer or version 2, as authorized for use in The Episcopal Church.
- Music: Because of the sacred nature of the Marriage Rite, music outside of the classical, sacred repertoire (such as popular songs, show tunes, etc.) is best used at your reception, though St. James’ musicians are open to discussion about options. Ultimately, the music of the service is at the discretion of the officiating clergy.
- Musicians: Musicians other than those on St. James’ are welcome to play for your wedding. However, St. James’ organist must be consulted and give permission if other musicians are to be used.
- Flowers, candles, etc: We strongly encourage the florist to consult in advance due to space limitations so that size and placement of arrangements do not impede movement or create a tripping hazard. Ultimately, placement of flowers is at the discretion of the officiating clergy of St. James’ wedding assistant. St. James’ does not permit the use of aisle runners or “Unity Candles.” Rice, flower petals, confetti, etc. may not be scattered in the church or chapel or on the church property. Flower petals may not be scattered inside the church as they stain the tile flooring and create a slipping hazard. Rice may not be scattered inside or outside. This is both for the safety of your guests, and for ease of cleaning following your ceremony.
- Photography and Video: While photographs are treasured reminders of this special day, the wedding ceremony is first and foremost a worship service. St. James’ has specific policies and photography and videography to preserve the dignity, sanctity, and sacramental nature of the ceremony. Photographers and videographers are required to read the Photograph and Videography Policies and sign an Agreement Form stating that they have read, understand, and will adhere to these policies. The signed Agreement Form must be returned to St. James’ 2 weeks prior to the wedding date. CLICK HERE for Photograph & Videography Agreement.
- Wedding Planners & Consultants: Some couples find it helpful to employ an outside wedding planner or consultant to assist them in planning the reception and other details leading up to the ceremony. Nevertheless, St. James’ staff is responsible for all arrangements concerning the ceremony: the music, the seating, photography and videography, movement and placement of participants, commencement of the ceremony, lighting, sound, and flowers. The wedding planner/consultant is welcome to attend the rehearsal and ceremony as an observer only, but has no role at the church during the rehearsal and the wedding ceremony other than as a guest.
- Securing Valuables: For security reasons, personal items and valuables should be entrusted to a designated person before the service begins. St. James’ cannot be responsible for the loss or theft of any gifts, personal items, or clothing during the service or left behind after the service.
For more information, and to set up an initial conversation with St. James’ Rector, please contact the Parish Administrator Nicole Bova through the Parish Office (315) 685-7600 or nicole@stjamesskan.org
Baptism is a sacrament of the Church – a means by which we receive God’s grace within us. In baptism one becomes a Christian, a member of God’s family, the Body of Christ, and a citizen of God’s Kingdom in which we participate in carrying out God’s vision for the world. Living out the promises made at baptism is at the heart of our lives as followers of Jesus.
For all of these reasons, baptism is a significant celebration for the individual and for the whole church. We look forward to sharing this important event with you and trust that it will be an occasion of great joy.
For more information, and to set up an initial conversation with one of our clergy, please contact the Parish Administrator- Nicole Bova through the Parish Office (315) 685-7600 or nicole@stjamesskan.org.
Whatever our life circumstances and backgrounds may be, all of us will at some point experience the death of a family member. The clergy of St. James’ are honored to make this journey with you. It is our privilege to meet with you, to pray with you, and to help you plan a funeral or memorial service that honors the person who has died in an authentic and personal way.
To contact the clergy or to inquire about scheduling a funeral or memorial service, please call the parish office at
(315) 685-7600. A person need not have been a member of this congregation or an Episcopalian to have a service at St. James’.
The clergy are also available to discuss advance planning of funeral and memorial services.
